Rare Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road Stock Certificate Signed by William Bingham

---

Obsolete Notes & Miscellaneous Items > Pennsylvania

---

---

Philadelphia & Lancaster Turnpike Road One Share
Grade: XF    

---

Mar. 16, 1795. Stock Certificate. No. 903. Upper central vignette of a Conestoga wagon traveling on the improved road. Impressed seal at left. Two hard folds account for the XF grade. Made out to Frederick Kuhn of the Borough of Lancaster. Signed by William Bingham as President. The back endorsements show this was transferred to Peter Kuhn on Apr. 26, 1817. Then transferred to Biddle, Wharton and brothers on May 6, 1817. Finally on Apr. 2, 1818 transferred to the President, Managers + Company of the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road. This company was formed to improve the Indian trails in Pennsylvania and to form better roads to effectively make for easier travel in the fledgling state. Clear signature of President William Bingham (1752-1804) at lower right. Bingham amassed a sizeable fortune during the Revolutionary War. He was founder and director of the Bank of North America and also served for six years (1795-1801) as a Senator from Pennsylvania. He was considered the wealthiest man in the new nation at this time and he was the ultimate capitalist. His signature is quite rare and that is what makes this item so valuable. Heritage has never sold one. Stacks sold a comparable example a decade ago as part of the Coast to Coast collection. It realized a hair under $2,000 that day in the crappy post-Recession market. This is a real prize for whomever decides to bring it home. It may very well be several years before another avails itself.

---